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JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 



A STORY 

AND 
A PLAY 



LITTLE FOLKS' PLAYS 
OF AMERICAN HEROES 

GEORGE WASHINGTON 
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
ULYSSES S. GRANT 
JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 



RICHARD G. BADGER, PXJBLISHER, BOSTON 



Little Folks* Plays of American Heroes 

John Joseph Pershing 

A STORY AND A PLAY 
RUTH HILL 




ARTIctVeRITXTt' 



RICHARD G. BADGER 

THE GORHAM RRESS 
BOSTON 



Copyright, 1919, by Richard G. Badger 



All Rights Reserved 



Made in the United States of America 



The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A 

(g)ni.A52f).107 



V 



ri: 



dedicated::,to all American boys 

WHO INTEND TO GROW UP INTO 

DETERMINED AND FEARLESS MEN 

LIKE GENERAL PERSfflNG 



Foreword to Historians and Other 
Truth-Lovers 

If facts have been twisted in this little volume, 
please pardon the distortions. 

If, however, the book fails in showing the splen- 
did achievement, the unswerving determination, 
and the perfect courage of General John Joseph 
Pershing; no pardon should be asked or granted. 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

THE STORY 

Concerning Johnny Pershing .... ii 

The School Teacher 15 

West Point 17 

Indian Warfare 20 

Pershing, the Military Instructor ... 24 

Indian Trouble in Montana 25 

Back to West Point 26 

The Spanish War 28 

Pershing in the Philippines 29 

Pershing's Marriage 33 

Back to the Philippines 35 

Pershing in Mexico 37 

The War with Germany 41 

THE PLAY 

Act I 49 

Act II 55 

Act III 61 

Act IV 69 

ActV 72 



THE STORY. 



JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 
Concerning Johnny Pershing. 

ALL of you probably know the fairy 
tale about the man who could neither 
shiver nor shake. There are not 
many people like that. Most of us 
are afraid of a good many things. 
Perhaps we are afraid of going upstairs In the 
dark, or perhaps we are afraid of tramps, or per- 
haps we are afraid of telling the truth when we 
know we will be punished for it. 

There was once a little boy who was not 
afraid of any of these things or even worse ones. 
His name was John Joseph Pershing and he lived 
out in Laclede, Missouri. 

Perhaps you will be surprised to learn that 
John's great-great-grandfather's last name was 
Pfoerschin, It was only after the Alsatian family 
came to this country that the name was changed 
to Pershing. Little did they know then that there 

II 



12 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

would be a man In their family who would lead 
a great American army over to their old country, 
Alsace, to free It from Germany. 

Johnny Pershing was a tow-headed little fellow 
with deep blue eyes. Like any other boy, some- 
times he was good, and sometimes he was just 
bad, but not very bad, not really bad at all, — just 
mischievous. His colored mammy called him "a 
fightin,' sturdy little rascal.'' 

It was lucky for him that he was fighting and 
that he was sturdy, for the year i860 in which 
he was born was just before the Civil War; and 
Missouri was almost exactly halfway between the 
North and the South. Slaves were held in the 
state, and the settlers were divided in their sym- 
pathies. 

John's father kept a store, and you can just 
Imagine the wonderful times that the little boy 
had prowling around the place. Perhaps his father 
did not enjoy It quite so much. John started 
straight for the guns every chance he got, so Mr. 
Pershing had to keep them unloaded. One day 
when Johnny was four years old, a company of 
Bushwhackers came to town. Bushwhackers were 
Confederate soldiers who were not part of the 



THE STORY 13 

regular army but would dash down on places 
where they were least expected and cause a great 
deal of trouble. 

In the store was the only safe in town, and 
every one kept his valuables there. When Mr. 
Pershing heard that the Bushwhackers were In 
town, he locked the safe, took the key, grabbed 
up John, and started away. As they were going 
along, they came upon one of the men whom the 
raiders had shot, so Mr. Pershing helped him 
along, while John trudged by his side. The little 
hoy did not realize how many, many wounded men 
he would see In his lifetime; but he acted like a 
hero even then, wanting to help and trying to help. 

The boys where John lived, had a wonderful 
time, and John played with them all. He did not 
care whether they were rich or poor, black or white. 
In winter they played at war with snow forts, 
and In the summer they played at war without 
the snow forts. They had wooden sticks for guns, 
and dish-pans for drums. Johnny's wooden stick 
was a sword, because he was always the leader, 
and like all good leaders, he generally won. 

One warm Sunday morning, as Johnny and his 
friends were on the way to Sunday School, they 



14 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

went by Mr. Margrave^s peach orchard. Now 
Mr. Margrave had the most delicious peaches in 
town and they never looked so tempting as they 
did to the boys this morning. They seemed so 
ripe and sweet and juicy that the boys just started 
for them. They never tasted them, because Mr. 
Margrave saw them first. 

John's conscience kept reminding him of George 
Washington. Because John was a boy who was 
not afraid of anything, even of telling the truth 
when he had done something wrong, he went and 
confessed to his father, who was the Sunday School 
Superintendent. 

"Get any peaches, John?" 

"No sir, we had to leave too quickly." 

"Well, if Mr. Margrave should ever ask you 
about the affair, look him in the eye and tell the 
truth. I guess the Lord understands what a temp- 
tation an orchard is to a boy, but He will not 
stand for lying." 

One day one of John's friends found him pok- 
ing around the underbrush with a stick. 

"What are you doing?" asked his friend. 

"Oh, just killing buzzers," he said. 

That may sound harmless to you, but "buz- 
zers" were rattlesnakes. 



THE STORY 15 

Of course his friend did not want to be outdone, 
so he started to kill buzzers too, but he did not 
have John*s knack of doing it. Just as one was 
all coiled, ready to sting his friend, John saved him 
just in time by killing the rattlesnake. 

John went about his lessons just as successfully 
as he went about killing snakes. He was not a 
brilliant pupil but he took his lessons seriously 
and he studied hard. He went to school to learn, 
not because he had to go. He was not the sort of 
boy to show off. No one said, "That boy will 
make his mark in the world." But they knew all 
the time that he was the sort of boy that sticks 
to anything he once takes hold of. Whatever he 
did, he did with all his might. 

The School Teacher 

When John had finished school in Laclede, his 
father could not afford to send him away for an 
education. In fact, he was so poor just at this 
time that John wanted to earn some money to 
help out. 

Ever since Abraham Lincoln had freed the 
slaves, there had been a negroes* school in Laclede. 
You will remember, though, that Missouri had been 



i6 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

a slave state, so you can imagine that the man who 
taught the negro school was not respected. John, 
however, was not one to let public opinion stop 
him when he knew he was right. There was a 
chance to teach in the negro school, and he took it. 

Perhaps it was his work here that later helped 
to make him such a successful officer over negro 
troops. But we are getting ahead of our story. 
Anyway, I know he made a good teacher then, 
don't you? 

Mr. Pershing after a while, was earning enough 
money so that John could afford to go where he 
had been planning to go right along, the Missouri 
State Normal School at Kirksvllle. He intended to 
become a lawyer and he was determined to get 
an education. 

Here we can see him studying just as hard as 
he did at the little school house he first went to. 
He was seldom at the head of his class, but he 
always got his lessons. 

When he graduated, he obtained a position as 
teacher at a Prairie Mound for forty dollars a 
month. Here he had his first taste of real dis- 
cipline. 

There was a bully in the school, as there is in 



THE STORY 17 

almost every school. Just to show off, he refused 
to do what Pershing told him to and was pun- 
ished. The bully boasted that his father would 
settle with the teacher, and, sure enough, the next 
morning bright and early, there was the father. 
The man must have been as much of a bully as 
his son, for he brought a revolver with him and 
threatened to use it. Pershing tried to convince 
the man that he was in the wrong, but it was no 
use. Then John who was never one to run away 
from a fight, grabbed the revolver from the bully's 
father and gave him a far harsher punishment 
than he had given the man's son. There was no 
trouble in making the pupils mind after that. 

West Point 

A very small announcement in the little Laclede 
weekly paper, was perhaps the most important 
thing that ever came into the life of John Persh- 
ing. The announcement was this: 

On July 15, there will be a competitive examin- 
ation for the appointment of a cadet at the United 
States Military Academy at West Point. All hon- 
est, strong. God-fearing boys of this district may 
take part. 

J. H. Burroughs, Member of Congress, Second 
Pistrict 



1 8 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

At first It was not the idea of being a soldier 
that appealed to John. It was the thought that 
here was the chance for a real education. He did 
not suppose it likely that the United States would 
go to war in his lifetime. 

His mother, who was everything to him, did 
not want him to go to West Point at first; but 
when she thought of what the opportunity meant 
to him, she consented. 

Seventeen other boys went to take the examin- 
ation, but after a while all dropped behind but 
John and another boy. Finally, John won first 
place on a question of grammar. 

Winning first place in that contest, however, 
did not admit him to West Point. He had to 
take another examination there In September. 
Here was where his hard study helped him again, 
and he passed the test. 

It Is no wonder that West Point turns out such 
good soldiers. There is plenty of hard work, 
plenty of hard study, plenty of hard drilling, and 
in Jack Pershlng^s day — there was plenty of hard- 
ship. 

There were good times enough to make up, 
though. We may know that Jack Pershing was well 



THE STORY 19 

liked by his classmates, for they made him presi- 
dent after he had been at West Point only a few 
months. 

We may know that he was a good soldier, be- 
cause he was made a corporal, then a ranking 
corporal, then a sergeant, then a ranking sergeant 
just as soon as he could be. Finally, when he could 
be made a lieutenant or a captain, he was made 
first captain, the highest honor that a West Point 
cadet could earn. 

He was earnest, ambitious, energetic, and 
manly. He was not a brilliant student but he 
studied hard. As his friends said, "He was solid, 
— the sort of fellow that you feel you can always 
depend on." 

Just to show how little one ever knows what will 
happen to him, listen to what Jack told one of his 
friends when he asked him how he liked West 
Point. 

"The training is a good thing, but as for fol- 
lowing it as a life work — why, I don't suppose 
there'll be another gun fired in a hundred years. 
I shall go on and finish though, just to get the 
education." 



20 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

Indian Warfare 

When graduation time came at West Point, all 
the men were excited to find out what commissions 
they would get. Every one wanted to be in the 
calvary, for that was by far the most important 
branch of the service. What was Jack's pleasure 
when he learned that he had been given a com- 
mission as second lieutenant in the Sixth Cavalry. 
Better than that, the Sixth Cavalry was busy fight- 
ing Indians under General Miles! 

The West Point Cadets were always given a 
leave after they graduated, so Lieutenant Persh- 
ing did not report at Fort Bayard, New Mexico, 
until the next fall. 

Here was the same sort of country in which 
later he was to hunt Villa. Much the same prob- 
lem was before the United States Army, for the 
Indian Chief, Geronimo, had broken away from 
the Indian reservation and had hidden with his 
warriors in the mountains. Orders came from 
Washington to get Geronimo dead or alive. This 
v/as no simple task, for the Apache Indians have 
been said to be able to run a hundred miles a day. 
They used every trick of cunning known to their 



THE STORY 21 

race, but before Pershing reached New Mexico, 
Geronimo had surrendered to General Miles. This 
did not put an end to the trouble, however, for 
many of the Indians still kept on fighting. 

Lieutenant Pershing used to lead scouting par- 
ties against them. Scouting In New Mexico was 
no joke. There were only a few water holes In 
the deserts. Horses and men would become 
crazed for drink. Then they would see mirages, or 
perhaps they would come to a water hole and 
find that the Indians had thrown in a dead animal 
to poison the water. 

While Lieutenant Pershing was stationed in New 
Mexico he worked hard and he played hard, but 
when he had work to do, he did not let play inter- 
fere with it. 

One day Indians came running to the fort with 
the news that some cowboys had murdered three 
Indians. It seems that the white men had been 
caught stealing the Indians' horses, and in getting 
away, they killed three red men. At present, the 
cowboys were In a log cabin surrounded by In- 
dians. Lieutenant Pershing was sent to bring 
them back to justice at the fort. 

When he came to the cabin, he found a hundred 



22 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

and fifty Indians surrounding it. He told them 
he had come to bring the white men to justice and 
that they must not interfere. The Indians knew 
him for a man of his word, so after talking it over, 
they gave their promise not to harm the cowboys. 

Then Pershing walked up to the cabin, put his 
shoulder against the door and opened it. 

*'Boys," said he, "I've come to get you." 

Every one of the men had a gun. They threat- 
ened to kill him, but his control was perfect enough 
so that he did not even have to draw his revolver. 

At first they said they would not go back past 
the Indians without their guns; but when he com- 
manded them to do so, they disarmed, and he 
drove them safely back to the fort. Later they 
were tried for murder. 

Jack remained in New Mexico for four years. 
Then he was ordered to the Dakotas in the Sioux 
Campaign. 

A Messiah or Savior had risen up among the 
Indians who claimed that their own land would 
be changed to the Happy Hunting Ground; that 
all dead Indians would return to life and that 
their favorite wild animals, — horses, buffaloes, 
elks, deer, and antelopes would arrive In great 



THE STORY 23 

droves. The Messiah taught the Indians many 
mystic ceremonies, among them the ghost dance. 
They believed that if they did the ghost dance 
wearing a shirt with a buffalo's head painted on 
it, that a white man could not kill them. The 
Indians would dance until they worked themselves 
into a frenzy. Under this excitement, they were 
liable to kill the white people. 

The Indians on the reservation had not been 
treated fairly by the white men. The chief. Sit- 
ting Bull, roused his people by saying there was no 
need for them to wait until the Messiah came to 
save them. They would go out to meet him. So 
they took to the war path. 

The campaign against the Indians began in De- 
cember and ended January. Every night during 
the bitter cold Lieutenant Pershing was in a new 
camp, sometimes in a tent, sometimes in the open. 
At last, however, the Indians were under control 
again. 

Pershing was given the command of a company 
of Indian scouts. This was not a position for a 
coward, because Indians had been known to kill 
their officers. Our Lieutenant, however, always 
won the confidence of native troops because of 
his perfect fairness. 



24 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

Pershing, the Military Instructor 

The next fall Jack became Military Instructor 
at the University of Nebraska. Students were 
cbliged to take military drill ; and for that reason, 
It was very unpopular. When their new professor 
came, they slouched into the office as if becoming 
soldiers was the last thing they wanted to do. 

They found, however, that they had a different 
type of officer to deal with than they thought. 
Although Pershing had no way of really enfor- 
cing his orders, there was a certain commanding 
quality in him that made the college man obey 
his orders. 

A wonderful change came over the attitude of 
the students with regard to their drills, and after 
three months, we might have seen them at seven 
o'clock In the morning drilling for two hours at 
a time, and again at four o'clock in the afternoon 
there were three more hours of drill. Such good 
soldiers did they become that they won over -a 
thousand dollars in prize money as well as a prize 
cup. Instead of the students trying their best to 
get out of being in the cadet battalions, they now 
tried their best to get in ; and they were so proud 



THE STORY 25 

of their uniforms that a good many of the students 
wore them when they were not at drill. 

You will remember that when Jack was a boy 
he had intended to become a lawyer. Perhaps 
you will be surprised to learn that he did become 
one. For while he was instructor at the Univer- 
sity of Nebraska, he studied law and was admitted 
to the bar. Evidently, however, he had changed 
his mind about not wanting to be a soldier, for he 
made no effort whatever to practice law. 

Indian Trouble in Montana 

From the University, Jack sent this telegram 
to the Adjutant General : 

If my regiment should be ordered for duty on the 
Northern Pacific or elsewhere, as now seems prob- 
able, I desire to be relieved from duty at the Uni- 
versity of Nebraska and ordered to join. 

He preferred to give up the comforts of city 
life and endure the hardships of Indian campaign- 
ing, which he knew so well, in order to be of value 
to his country. His regiment was the Tenth Cav- 
alry in which he had been commissioned first lieu- 
tenant two years before. 



26 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

It was not for over a year after he had sent 
his telegram that he was ordered to join his regi- 
ment in Montana. 

Some Cree Indians had passed the frontier from 
Canada and were causing trouble In Montana. 
After a good deal of effort, the United States 
Government gained the promise of the Canadian 
government to take these Indians back if the 
Americans would deliver them at the border line. 
You can see that It was not an easy task to collect 
them. This, however, was the work that was given 
Lieutenant Pershing. When the Indians heard 
the news that they were to be sent back to Can- 
ada, many of them said they would fight, others 
fled. In the end, however, they all took to flight. 
It was very easy for them to hide in the many 
dry guUeys of Montana. Pershing, however, suc- 
ceeded in collecting these scattered bands of Crees 
without any fighting whatever, and safely deliver- 
ed them to the Canadian authorities. 

Back To West Point 

After this, Pershing had an experience entirely 
different from anything he had had before. He 



THE STORY 27 

was obliged to command men who disliked him. 
Wherever he had been, he had enforced discipline 
strictly; yet the men liked him because they knew 
he was fair. Now, however, he was assigned as 
tactical officer at West Point. The students always 
call their tactical officers "Tacs." A Tac was sup- 
posed to Inspect the rooms of the cadets, see that 
their rifles were free from dirt and rust, and that 
their uniforms were in good condition. It was 
his duty to enforce the discipline of the corps and 
we may be sure that Pershing did it. It was rather 
to his credit that the cadets disliked him, for the 
only kind of tactical officer they would have liked, 
would have been one that would allow them to do 
as they pleased. Like most students when they 
dislike their Instructors, they tried to find a dis- 
agreeable nickname for him. There was nothing 
disagreeable about this lieutenant from which they 
could take an ugly nickname. One bright cadet, 
however, remembered that Pershing's regiment, 
the Tenth Cavalry, was negro; and so gave him 
the name "Black Jack** which has stuck from that 
time to this. The name did not really apply, for 
Pershing was a blonde. 



28 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

The Spanish War 

While Pershing was at West Point, news came 
that the Maine had been sunk. Immediately he 
sent this letter to headquarters at Washington : 

Sir: I have the honor to request that I be re- 
lieved from duty at the United States Military 
Academy and directed to join my regiment now 
under orders to take the field. 

Very respectfully, 
Your obedient servant, 
John J. Pershing, 

1st Lieut., 10th Cavalry. 

This request was refused. Not satisfied, how- 
ever, Pershing went directly to the War Depart- 
ment at Washington. He said to the Assistant 
Secretary of War, "The government trained me 
to be a soldier, not a teacher, I have been waiting 
twelve years now for a chance to get some real 
action. If I cannot go to Cuba as a regular army 
man, I am going to get Into this fight, if I have 
to go out and join the volunteers." His request 
was granted and he was ordered to join his regi- 
ment at Tampa, Florida. It was some time, how- 
ever, before the troops were sent to Cuba; but 
finally the transports sailed. 



THE STORY 29 

In Cuba, Pershing was praised by the officers 
over him for personal gallantry, untiring energy, 
and faithfulness. One officer said that Jack was 
the coolest man under fire he ever saw in his life. 

There was no opportunity, of course, for mount- 
ed cavalry in Cuba; but the cavalry dismounted 
fought only as the best infantry could fight. Per- 
shing's colored regiment was particularly valuable, 
for they did not mind the intense heat so much 
as the white troops did. 

You all know how the Rough Riders were 
charging up the hill near San Juan. There was 
terrible firing from the block houses at the top. 
Just as things were at the worst, Pershing came 
rushing up the hill with the Tenth Cavalry, and 
the Americans won the day. 

Pershing was taken ill shortly after the battle 
of San Juan and was invalided home. When he 
recovered, he was ordered to the headquarters of 
the army at Washington where he proved himself 
very valuable. 

Pershing in the Philippines 

As usual, Pershing was not satisfied to be away 
from the fighting when there was fighting going 



30 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

on; so he kept up his efforts, and finally he was 
ordered to the Philippines. He was sent to the 
very worst part, inhabited by the savage Moros. 
They were the wildest of the Philippine races. 
Since they were Mohammedans, they believed that 
if they killed a Christian, they would receive n 
ravored place in their paradise. The Spaniards 
had never been able to conquer them. 

Jack was not allowed to be in active service, 
however, until almost three years later. He was 
kept busy with government affairs in the principal 
city. In the meantime, he had been made Captain 
of the First Cavalry. 

Captain John Joseph Pershing like a good sol- 
dier never questioned orders and never delayed 
their execution. When the government ordered 
that proclamations be sent to the Moros warning 
them against resistance, he immediately delivered 
such proclamations. His experience with the In- 
dians, however, helped him in dealing with these 
savage tribes. In his messages, he addressed every 
chief as his friend. 

All the time he had been in the Philippines, he 
had been studying the conditions there. He had 
gone alone Into the villages where no white man 



THE STORY 31 

ever had been before. No more difficult mission 
had ever been given him, however, than when 
he was sent to the worst part of the Moro country. 
He and his soldiers took the proclamations to the 
Moro villages. Whole tribes would start to resist, 
but he would convince the chieftain that he came 
in friendship, and there was fittle trouble. In the 
late summer, there was the most severe earth- 
quake that even the oldest Moros ever could re- 
member. They believed that the Americans had 
caused the trouble and started to attack the camp. 
When the offenders were not punished, the natives 
thought the Americans were cowards, so Pershing 
was sent on an expedition against them. Although 
he was only a captain, he had many officers under 
him. He really had the command of a Brigadier- 
General. 

The country that he passed through was very 
different from the deserts of New Mexico and 
the canyons of Arizona. Here in the jungle, 
the men were obliged to pass through mud some- 
times up to their necks. To add to the trouble, 
cholera broke out among the natives; but In spite 
of the difficulties in passing through the country, 
Pershing convinced the Moros that he meant busi- 



32 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

ness. A great many of the chieftains were friendly 
to him, and so great was their confidence that they 
proclaimed him a chieftain of their tribe. This 
v/as a great help to him in handling the natives. 
A good many of them helped him in his expedi- 
tions against hostile chiefs. 

Four expeditions Pershing led against the 
Moros. To those who surrendered, he was 
friendly and fair; to those who disobeyed orders, 
he was severe. In this way, he convinced the 
natives of his determination and his fair play. 

The worst section of the country was around 
Lake Lanao. Pershing accomplished what no 
white man ever had done before. He marched 
completely around the lake and forced the surren- 
der of all the natives. 

No boy was probably ever fonder of his 
mother than was Jack Pershing of his. The 
blow that came to him, therefore, as he was 
about to start on a Moro expedition was a 
very heavy one. He was informed by an orderly 
that his mother was dead. This, together with 
the hardships that He had undergone in his cam- 
paigns, brought on an illness, so that the next 
summer he returned to the United States. 



THE STORY 33 

Pershing's Marriage 

About the same time that Pershing was leaving 
the Philippines for Washington, Helen Frances 
Warren, daughter of the United States Senator 
Warren of Wyoming, left Wellesley College for 
her home. There were more than six thousand 
miles between the Philippines and Wellesley, yet 
these two people were soon to meet In Washing- 
ton. Of course Frances, like every other American, 
had read of Pershlng^s wonderful work In the 
Philippines. Every one was talking about him. 

"Father," she said, "I want to meet Captain 
Pershing." Strange to say, the very night she 
arrived In Washington, she met Captain Pershing 
at dinner. Frances had met her hero. The day 
after the dance she sat In the Senate gallery and 
heard President Roosevelt mention Pershing In his 
message, — ^the first time a president ever had men- 
tioned an army officer In a message. Roosevelt 
asked Congress for the right to promote officers 
by selection, rather than for length of service. He 
could, with the approval of the senate, make 
officers generals, but he could not promote a cap- 
tain to colonel. 



34 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

Several years later, he got tired of waiting for 
Congress to allow him to make Pershing colonel, 
and so promoted him from a captain to a briga- 
dier generalship, the first time that had ever hap- 
pened. Pershing was jumped over the heads of 
more than eight hundred officers. 

In less than a year after Jack had met Frances 
Warren, she consented to become his wife. Then 
all of a sudden, before any one had thought of 
planning a wedding. Secretary of War Taft ap- 
pointed Captain Pershing for service in Tokyo. 

This would have been a welcome appointment 
except for the fact that the position was not in- 
tended for a married man. Here was a difficulty. 
It was not the first by any means that Pershing had 
encountered, so he went to Secretary Taft to talk 
the matter over with him. Some one evidently 
had spoken to Taft of the matter, so when Persh- 
ing asked whether a married man could have the 
post at Tokyo, Taft smiled and said that although 
no married man could be appointed, that the ap- 
pointment would not be taken away if Pershing 
married afterwards. That was enough for Jack 
Pwshlng. Before the month was over, Frances 
Warren had become Mrs. Pershing. The next day, 
the couple started for Japan. 



THE STORY 35 

The Russo-Japanese War was going on at this 
time, so almost as soon as Captain Pershing ar- 
rived in Tokyo, he was sent as American observer 
with the Japanese army. The report that he made 
to the war department was one of the best of its 
kind. The Japanese Emperor was so much pleased 
with the American officer's ability that he gave him 
a highly-valued decoration. 

In the summer of 1908, there was a good deal 
of trouble in the Balkan States. Pershing was sent 
by the government to Paris in the interests of the 
United States in case war should be declared. 

Back to the Philippines 

After that, he was sent to the Philippines again, 
this time as the Governor of the Moro Province. 
In taking office, he said just as we would expect 
him to : "I shall act in accordance with my judg- 
ment without permitting myself to be swayed by 
outside influence and I shall do all the work possi- 
ble for tlie well-being of the people." 

In spite of the difficult tasks here, these days 
were probably the happiest of his life. Three of 
his four children that he loved so dearly were 
born here. 



36 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

One of the first things he did In subduing the 
province was to frobid the Moros to carry weap- 
ons. This might seem a simple thing to do, but it 
was far from that. It was as natural for a Moro to 
carry knives and spears as it Is for us to carry 
purses and watches. As a matter of fact, no self- 
respecting Moro would think of leaving his house 
without two or three weapons. Human life meant 
nothing to a Moro, not even his own life; so that 
the weapons were not used just as ornaments. 

Pershing knew, however, that until he stopped 
the natives carrying knives and spears he could not 
bring peace In that part of the Philippines. He 
personally visited all the chiefs who were his 
friends, and hundreds of the Moros gave up the 
weapons. There were hundreds, however, who 
did not; and campaigns were started against them. 

In the fall, six hundred of the very worst Moros 
collected in the empty crater of a dead volcano, 
and defied the Americans. The natives had left 
in such a hurry that they had not taken enough 
supplies with them. Pershing, instead of attacking 
them as they expected, scattered his soldiers around 
the volcano, so that the Moros could not get any 
supplies. He said he would get them out if it took 



THE STORY 37 

ten years. But on Christmas Day, all the Moros 
who were left — about four hundred — marched 
down the volcano and surrendered. 

This had a far greater effect on the natives than 
as if they had been conquered in battle. They 
thought they would gain eternal happiness if they 
were killed while bravely fighting their enemies, 
but to surrender was the greatest disgrace they 
could possibly undergo. This, however, was what 
Pershing had forced them to do. 

This victory had great influence in the Philip- 
pines, so that in less than two years Pershing had 
brought about peace in the Moro province. This 
was a wonderful accomplishment, for no tribe ever 
liked fighting as the Moros liked it. It was now 
possible to withdraw troops from the Philippines. 

Pershing in Mexico 

When Brigadier-General Pershing returned from 
the Philippines, there was more trouble waiting 
for him. The conditions in Mexico were so bad 
that an American citizen could not be safe there. 
General Huerta had killed the President of Mex- 
ico and declared himself ruler in his place. Gen- 



38 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

eral Carranza and General Villa were opposed to 
him. 

The United States did not Interfere in spite of 
the trouble that Mexico was causing her. Haven't 
you ever seen a great big dog refuse to pay at- 
tention to a very little dog who Is annoying him? 
After a while, however, If the little dog keeps up 
his bad manners, the big dog is very likely to pun- 
ish him. At last Huerta insulted the American 
flag, and troops were sent to the border immedi- 
ately. As soon as Pershing arrived there, he in- 
spected his forces, and said, "I am ready to take 
the field on five minutes* notice." 

It was not for some time, however, that he was 
to invade Mexico. It was his duty to see that no 
arms or munitions went across the border. 

Finally Huerta was deposed, but Carranza step- 
ped Into his place. Then he declared his former 
ally. Villa, a bandit. 

It was at this time that General Pershing re- 
ceived a telephone call at headquarters. The oper- 
ator asked If he should read a telegram which had 
just arrived. This was what he read: 

Wife and three children suffocated in lire. War- 
ren in serious condition. 



THE STORY 39 

Pershing had been expecting his family to join 
him and had prepared a house for them. They 
would have been there before that day, if Mrs. 
Pershing had not waited over to go to a reunion 
of her Wellesley class held in San Francisco. 

No man ever cared more for his wife and chil- 
dren than did John Joseph Pershing. Heart- 
broken, he took the first train to San Francisco 
where he found that Warren, his son, was alive. 
He was the only one left of the family he loved 
so well. 

In a card that he sent to a friend who had writ- 
ten him at this time, he said: "It was fine of you 
and other Laclede friends to remember me at a 
time when it takes more than mortal courage to 
continue.'* 

Many men would have given up at this time, 
but not General Pershing. He was no coward even 
when it came to sorrow. With a heavy heart he 
returned to his duties at the border. 

Villa, becoming more daring than ever, had dash- 
ed across the border, raided the town of Columbus, 
New Mexico, killed many of the inhabitants, and 
had returned to Mexico before the American 
troops could reach Columbus. 



40 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

Pershing was placed in command of the troops 
sent to capture Villa. He was familiar with this 
country, for he had ridden through it during the 
Indian wars. 

One by one, Villa's men deserted him. Be- 
cause of Pershing's watchfulness, while stationed at 
the border. Villa had not been able to get enough 
guns for his men. He with the few followers who 
were left him, succeeded in hiding in the mountains 
of Mexico, so that he was not captured. 

The real purpose of an American army in Mex- 
ico had been accomplished, for there was peace 
and safety for Americans on the border. 

Better than that, the militia of the country had 
received training that was to be priceless to them 
in the war that was to come. 

Pershing had been made a major-general, the 
youngest of his rank in the country. When Gen- 
eral Funston died, he was placed in supreme com- 
mand of the forces in Mexico and on the border. 
When he came back, he brought with him the 
finest trained body of soldiers that this country 
ever had seen. 



THE STORY 41 

The War With Germany 

In the spring of 19 17, Pershing was called to 
Washington. When he reported, he was informed 
that he was to be Commander-in-Chief of the Ex- 
peditionary Force in France. This was the high- 
est honor that the United States could confer upon 
a military man. Step by step, Pershing had won 
it, by steadily and successfully doing everything 
that had been given him to do, from the time he 
was a small boy working at lessons, all through the 
different commands he had been given in the army 

You all know how quietly he slipped out of New 
York Harbor one May Day In 19 17 and how he 
arrived safely in England and then in France. You 
all know how the people of Europe hailed him as 
the man who was to deliver them from German 
conquest. Listen to his words when he arrived 
in France: 

America has entered the war with the intention 
of doing her share, no matter how great or how 
small that share may be. Our Allies can depend 
upon that. From the present moment our aims are 
the same. 

You have read, no doubt, of his visit to the 
tomb of Lafayette and of how he said, thinking 



42 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

of France's aid to us In the time of the Revolution, 
"Lafayette, we have come." 

Pershing had come just when France needed her 
most. For years she had been fighting the Hun. 
Not content with killing French soldiers, the Ger- 
mans had killed French babies by dropping bombs 
from aeroplanes. Later, she set up a horrible gun 
that could shoot right into Paris from a long dis- 
tance away. It was no wonder that France hailed 
Pershing as her savior. He was not one to disap- 
point her. 

Many were the tasks that had confronted him, 
but never so mighty a one as this. Not only must 
America send troops over three thousand miles 
through waters in which lurked German submar- 
ines; but she must send food and supplies as well. 
Food was terribly scarce In Europe. At Pershing's 
request, the food of the United States was looked 
after in order that none might be wasted and our 
army fed. 

Not only must troops and supplies be sent across 
the ocean, but Pershing had to build railroads to 
carry them when they got to France. 

In three weeks after he had landed, he had pre- 
pared a great base camp for the American sol- 



THE STORY 43 

diers. He then wired the War Department that 
everything was ready for the troops. 

You know how they were sent and how they es- 
caped the submarines. 

General Pershing knew It was not enough for 
the Americans to be soldiers, they must be men 
as well. Never were the morals of an army so 
strictly guarded. Never was there a cleaner, more 
splendid body of men than those under his com- 
mand. They behaved as gentlemen and as Ameri- 
cans. Germans might have told you they behaved 
as wild cats. 

In the fall, Congress made Pershing a general. 
Before this, Washington, Grant, and Sherman had 
been the only American generals. General Persh- 
ing felt that some of our forces had received 
enough training, so under French command they 
were placed in the front line trenches. 

In the spring, the Germans began another of 
their terrible drives. By sacrificing countless num- 
bers of their men for thirty miles they advanced, 
nothing seemed to stop them. 

Then General Pershing went to General Foch, 
in command of the French army, and said, "There 
is at this time no other question than that of fight- 



44 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

ing. Infantry, artillery, aviation, all that we have, 
are yours to dispose of as you will. I have come to 
say that the American people would be proud to 
be engaged in the greatest battle in history." He 
knew how Americans could fight even without all 
the training they were expected to have. 

France accepted the offer and gave the Ameri- 
cans a place in the battle line. 

No doubt Pershing was the man who had most 
to do in getting the Allies to unite under one head, 
— General Foch. This was a wonderful help in 
beating the Germans. 

No American girl or boy needs to be told that 
the Americans were conquerors from the time 
they took up the battle line against the Germans, 
until Germany sued for peace. In six hours they 
re-took as much land as the Germans had spent 
six days in capturing. They were the first to 
Invade a German city. 

As General Pershing said: 

Whether keeping lonely vigil in the trenches, 
whether attacking machine gun nests or performing 
the drudgery of the rear or supplying the front line, 
each man has done his duty. And he has felt that 
he had behind him the support of the whole coun- 
try. By his courage, indomitable will, splendid or- 



THE STORY 45 

ganization, and tenacity, the American soldier has 
turned impending defeat into overwhelming vic- 
tory. I drink to the American soldier, than whom 
there is no better in the world to-day. Long live 
the American soldier! 

And long live the greatest of all our American 
soldiers, General John Joseph Pershing I 



THE PLAY 



JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 
A PLAY 

Act I 

SCENE I 

Scene — Outside Laclede, Missouri, the ground 
is covered with underbrush. Johnny is poking 
i?ito it with a stick. Enter his friend, Lee. 

LEE — Hello, Johnny, what are you doing? 

JOHNNY — Oh nothing much, just killing 
buzzers. 

LEE — You don't mean to tell me you're stand- 
ing there in your bare feet, killing rattlesnakes 1 
Why, one is liable to kill you any minute! 

JOHNNY— Sure I am. But you can just bet 
if another one shows up here, it isn't going to kill 
me! I'm going to kill it! It's easy enough. 

LEE — It is not easy; you're just bragging. 

JOHNNY — If you weren't a friend of mine, 
I'd knock you down for saying that. Anyway, 
you'd better take it back. 

LEE— Oh, I didn't mean anything, Johnny I I 
49 



50 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

know you never brag. Honest, I didn't think 
when I said It. 

JOHNNY— That's all right, Lee, I shouldn't 
have got mad so easily, but you see there is 
nothing I hate so much as a bragger. Anyway, I 
never do anything worth bragging about. 

LEE — Well, I should say you do a lot of things 
you could brag about. If you were that kind of a 
boy. Why, If I had killed as many buzzers as you 
have, Fd spend all the rest of my time talking 
about It. 

JOHNNY — No, Lee, It's better spending the 
time killing more buzzers. Words don't make 
much difference. 

LEE — That's right, they don't. But is it really 
easy to kill buzzers ? I'd like to kill one. 

JOHNNY— Of course It's easy. Didn't I tell 
you it was ? Come on, quick. I see one now, and 
if you hurry, I'll let you kill it I 

LEE — My, isn't that a big one! Oh, I am 
going to skin It, after I've killed It. 

JOHNNY— Hurry! Don't let him coil, or 
he'll sting you. 

LEE— Oh, John! He's colled! What'll I do? 
(Johnny kills the snake.) 



THE PLAY 51 

JOHNNY— There, he's out of the way. You 
better keep away from buzzers until you can kill 
fast. 

SCENE II 

Scene — The porch of one of the negro homes 
in Laclede, It is evening, Rastus Johnson, his 
Wife, and little Rastus are seated on the porch, 

RASTUS — I know that when President Lincoln 
done make us free, he didn't want us to be treated 
like slaves no moah. 

MRS. JOHNSON— He certainly did not, but 
Lordyl most of us is treated worse'n slaves here 
in Laclede. 

RASTUS — I sure am glad the gov'nment 
makes them keep a school for colored folks' 
chil'ren. Little Rastus can learn a heap o' things 
his father never had no chance to learn, can't you, 
Rastus ? 

LITTLE RASTUS— I sure can. Pa. But you 
shouldn't say *'never had no chance," it ain't 
grammatical. 

RASTUS — Perhaps it ain't, but I just reckon 
your teacher. Mister Pershing, wouldn't thank 



52 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

you none for correcting your poor old father that 
never had any chance whatsoever. 

LITTLE RASTUS— That's right, Pa. He 
done told us we couldn't be good enough to our 
fathers and mothers, no matter how hard we tried. 

RASTUS — I knew John Pershing wouldn't put 
no silly notions into your head. I've known him 
ever since he was a boy. It didn't seem to make 
no difference to him whether a boy was rich or 
poor, black or white. He done play with them all. 
But if they was crooked, Lawsyl He wouldn't 
have nothing to do with them, anyhow. 

MRS. JOHNSON— Some of the white trash 
around heah make me plum disgusted. I heard 
two gals talking in the postoffice t'other day. One 
said, "Oh, have you heard the news?" T'other 
one said, "No, what?" Then the first one said, 
"Why, John Pershing is teaching the nigger school 
and of course we can't have anything more to do 
with him." 

RASTUS (chuckling)— I reckon that won't 
bother him none. 



THE PLAY 53 



SCENE III 

The Pershing home at Laclede, Mrs. Pershing 
is seated, mending, John comes rushing in, 

JOHN — Hurrah, Mother, IVe won! IVe 
won! (Mrs. Pershing, getting up, puts both her 
hands on his shoulders.) 

MRS, PERSHING— Oh, my dear boy, I am 
so glad and so proud! But I knew all the time 
you would win. 

JOHN — I think that was what made me win. 
I just simply couldn't disappoint you. 

MRS. PERSHING— Isn't it queer? I didn't 
want you to go to West Point at all at first. I 
couldn't bear to think of your being a soldier, 
Johnny. To think of your being cold and hungry 
and lonely in some place far away where I couldn't 
help you at all. Then if you should be wounded, 
or even killed! (Hiding her face in her hands.) 
Oh, Johnny, I know I couldn't stand it. You 
know how dear you are to me! 

JOHN — Don't worry. Mother ! I don't intend 
to be a soldier. Probably there won't be another 
war while I am alive. I wouldn't be much use as 



54 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

a soldier if there weren't a war, now would I, 
Mother? 

MOTHER— Well, if you were a soldier, I 
should certainly pray that there would never be 
any war. 

JOHN — Then I certainly won't be a soldier, 
because I know you are so good that all your 
prayers are answered. No, I think FU be a law- 
yer. He can fight even in times of peace, can't he. 
Mother? 

MOTHER — Oh, John, how you do carry on I 
But think of the wonderful education you will get 
at West Point! — the education you have always 
wanted, even when you were only a little fellow. 

JOHN — Yes, Mother, that is what I am going 
for. And think of their wonderful motto, "Duty, 
Honor, Country!" 



Act II 

SCENE I 

A cabin in New Mexico surrounded by Indians, 
Enter Lieutenant Pershing with United States 
soldiers, 

PERSHING (speaking to Indians)— Friends, 
I have come to get the men In that hut. 

INDIANS (speaking all at once in their excite- 
ment) — They kill our men I They steal our 
horses I 

PERSHING— Yes, I know they have stolen 
your horses and killed your men. That is why I 
have come to take them back for trial at fort. 

FIRST INDIAN— What mean trial? 

PERSHING— I mean by trial, we find out 
whether or not they have stolen the horses and 
killed the men. 

INDIANS (together)— Ugh I No need trial. 
We know they steal and kill. 

PERSHING — ^AU right, then; you can come to 
55 



56 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

the trial and tell what you know. Then we will 
punish the white men who killed the Indians. 

FIRST INDIAN— You no tell lies like some 
white men? 

PERSHING— No, I never tell lies. Do I, my 
friends ? 

INDIANS (together)— He no lie. He do 
what he say. 

PERSHING — Yes, I always intend to do what 
I say, just as good Indians do. Now will you 
promise not to hurt the white men when I take 
them from the cabin to the fort? 

FIRST INDIAN— Kill them here I No need 
trial I 

PERSHING— No, I will not bring out the 
white men until you promise not to harm them. 
Do you all promise? 

INDIANS^ — Very well, we know you keep your 
word. (Walks up to the cabin door, puts his 
shoulder against it, and opens it.) 

SCENE II. 

Interior of the cabin. Cowboys seated around 
a table, playing cards. Enter Second Lieutenant 
Pershing, The men drop their cards in their sur- 
prise. 



THE PLAY 57 

PERSHING— Boys, I've come to get you I 

COWBOYS— Not by a long shot I 

FIRST COWBOY— Perhaps you think we 
haven't guns. But we have. What's more, we 
intend to use them I 

SECOND COWBOY— That's right I Ask the 
Indians out there If we don't know how to shoot 
straight, too! 

PERSHING— I didn't come to hear how well 
you can shoot or to see how well you can shoot. 
I came to get you. 

FIRST COWBOY— Well, you'll have a pretty 
tough time trying to get me, I'll tell you right 
now. You better run back to the fort before 
things get too rough for you here. 

PERSHING — I don't want to hear any more 
nonsense. You come along, and be quick about It I 
(Cowboys start to aim guns at him.) Put down 
those guns ! Do you want my men and all those 
Indians both after you at once? (Men put down 
guns.) 

SECOND COWBOY— Well, perhaps there \s 
something In what he says. What do you think, 
boys? 

FIRST COWBOY— I suppose we're In a hole 
and we might as well let him get us out of it. 



58 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

We'll have our guns along in case the Indians 
get gay. 

PERSHING — Pass those guns over to me. PU 
look after them. 

FIRST COWBOY— Can you beat that? What 
do you think those there Indians are, Angels of 
Mercy? 

PERSHING— You heard me tell you to sur- 
render those guns. Be quick about it. I haven't 
any time to waste. 

SECOND COWBOY— Do you promise not to 
let the Indians kill us? 

FIRST COWBOY— Does he promise a fox 
won't touch a goose when one runs past him? 

PERSHING — No more insolence! Pass over 
the guns! (Cowboys sulkily surrender their 
weapons.) 

SCENE III. 

Office of the Assistant Secretary of War. First 
Lieutenant Pershing and his friend, also a first 
lieutenant, seated on a couch, 

PERSHING— Yes, I wrote to the general and 
asked him to relieve me of my duties at West 



THE PLAY 59 

Point, so I could get into this fight, but he refused. 
That Is why I came here. 

FRIEND — I can tell you now, there's no use 
In wasting time hanging around to see the Assist- 
ant Secretary of War. He won't do a thing for 
you. I tried to get him to send me away from 
Washington, so I could get to Cuba. But he 
wouldn't. You see, I'm still here, and I'll prob- 
ably be here until the trouble is all over. I don't 
suppose I'd get a chance to fight if a hundred 
Maines were blown up. 

PERSHING — I've made up my mind to get 
into active service and I'm going to do it some 
way. 

FRIEND— Well, I wish you luck, but I'm 
afraid it can't be done. Good-bye and good luck! 

PERSHING— Thank you, and good-bye! 

(Exit Friend.) 

(Enter Assistant Secretary of War. Pershing 
salutes.) 

SECRETARY — Good morning, Lieutenant, 
what can I do for you? 

PERSHING— What can you do for any 
American lieutenant who is stationed at West 
Point just now? 



6o JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

SECRETARY— WeU, what? 

PERSHING— Why, give him a chance to fight, 
of course. 

SECRETARY— That is impossible. You men 
are needed at West Point more than ever. 

PERSHING — The government trained me to 
be a soldier, not a teacher. IVe been waiting 
twelve years for a chance to get some real action. 
If I can't go to Cuba as a regular army officer, I 
shall resign. I'm going to get into this fight if I 
have to go out and join the volunteers. 

SECRETARY— Bravo, my boy! I'll see that 
you have a chance to go with the regulars. 



Act III 

SCENE I 

Camp Vicars, Moro Province, Philippines. 
{Captain Pershing standing in his tent. Enter old 
Moro Chief.) 

PERSHING— Welcome, my friend. I am in- 
deed glad to see you in the camp of your friends. 

MORO — I glad to see you. I thank my friend 
for medicine he send when all tribe very sick with 
what you call cholera. 

PERSHING— We want to help Moros all we 
can. We are their friends. We never want to 
quarrel with our friends. Only when they do 
wrong do we fight them. 

MORO — ^That is true. I know you always 
keep word to Moro friends. 

PERSHING — Yes, and I always will keep my 
promises to you. But why do you not want me to 
visit your fort? I am glad to have you come here. 

6i 



62 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

MORO — I glad to see you. But my people, 
my people, very fierce! 

PERSHING— Surely your people will be glad 
to see their friends. Haven't we built good roads 
for them? 

MORO — Yes, but the Moro, he love Jungle 
better than roads. Jungle better to fight in. 

PERSHING — But your people don't want to 
spend all their time fighting. Isn't peace better? 

MORO— What is peace? 

PERSHING — Peace Is when there is no war, 
when all people live In love together. 

MORO— Ugh! That Is life for women I 
Moros are brave men ! Moros kill enemies ! 

PERSHING— Yes, but what if enemies kill 
Moros? 

MORO — Then Moros, if they die bravely, go 
to Heaven and be happy always. 

PERSHING — But we are not your enemies, 
we are your friends. 

MORO — Yes, yes. You, my friend, my friend 
always. You do not steal from my people, like 
white men here before, what you call Spaniards. 
When you want food, you give much money to my 
people for it. 



THE PLAY 63 

PERSHING — Of course we pay for what we 
get. All honest men do that. 

MORO — Yes, and when there Is work to do, 
you no beat Moros to get It done. You give him 
more money. 

PERSHING — Of course, Americans do not 
hurt their friends, the Moros. 
MORO — Americans our friends. 

PERSHING— Now that you have visited me, 
your friend, here, when shall I visit you at your 
fort? 

MORO — Oh, I glad to see you any time, but 
my people so great fighters, they might hurt you. 

PERSHING— That is no sort of friendship If 
I cannot come to see you. Since you are my friend, 
I shall come to see you. 

MORO — Oh, my friend, you are a brave man I 
Come, my people will not harm you I 

SCENE II 

Pershin^s tent. Early morning. Enter Orderly, 
Salutes and hands Captain Pershing a telegram, 
Pershing opens it. His hand trembles as he reads 
it. 



64 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

ORDERLY (Saluting)— Beg Pardon, Captain, 
may I speak? 

PERSHING— Yes, Jim, don't I remember 
when we were boys together in Laclede ? Jim, you 
remember my dear mother? The telegram says 
she Is dead! 

ORDERLY— Oh, Captain ! There is nothing I 
can say. Sorry is too small a word. 

PERSHING— Poor mother! And I wasn't 
there at all to help her at the last! She knew how 
it would be when she didn't want me to be a sol- 
dier! 

ORDERLY — You should spare yourself, now. 
You must not go out through the jungles among 
those terrible Moros. Just now you would be in 
just the right condition to catch the cholera. 

PERSHING— Nothing must interfere with the 
duty of a soldier. I shall start against the Moros 
to-day. I remember how I was talking with my 
mother before I went to West Point and we spoke 
of its fine motto "Duty, Honor, Country." I will 
be true to that motto and to my mother. 

SCENE III. 

A Parlor Car in which are seated Senator War- 
ren of Wyoming and his daughter Frances , later 



THE PLAY 6s 

Pershing's wife. Frances Warren is reading a 
newspaper. 

FRANCES (Putting down her paper)— Oh, 
Father, I have just been reading about the most 
wonderful man I ever heard of! 

SENATOR— Well, well, well, and of course a 
girl who has just graduated from college must 
know all about everything! 

FRANCES— Well, a girl who is just out of 
college knows a real hero when she sees one ! 

SENATOR — Don't tell me you have seen a 
real hero! 

FRANCES — No, I haven't seen him yet, but 
I'm going to see him the very first chance I get! 

SENATOR — Don't you think you might at 
least tell your father who the man is? 

FRANCES— Can't you even guess? Why, the 
paper is full of him, and all the girls at college 
are simply wild about the things he has been doing, 

SENATOR — Don't keep me in suspense an- 
other minute! I simply can't stand the strain. 

FRANCES — ^Why, of course you are only fool- 
ing. You know I am talking about Captain Persh- 
ing. 

SENATOR— Well, Frances, I see you didn't 



66 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

lose all your brains at college. You picked a real 
man that time ! 

FRANCES — It doesn't take much ability to pick 
a man that the whole country calls a hero. 

SENATOR — And the country Is right, too. No 
man ever did a harder task than Captain Persh- 
ing when he marched around Lake Lanao. Those 
Moros are the worst savages a man ever tackled. 
He had to go through jungles that most men 
never could pass. Worse than that, the natives 
were suffering from cholera that he and his men 
would have caught If he had not taken every pos- 
sible precaution. Yes, Frances, he Is a real hero 
If ever there was one. 

SCENE IV 

Pershing^ s camp near the extinct volcano in the 
Philippines in zvhich the Moros are awaiting the 
Americans' attack. Time, Christmas Day, 191 1. 
Pershing is seated at dinner with his officers. 

PERSHING — There Is no telling how much 
longer those Moros will stay In that volcano, but 
I'll get them out of there. If It takes ten years. 

FIRST CAPTAIN— Wouldn' t I just like a 
chance to get at them! 



THE PLAY 67 

PERSHING— You wouldn't like a chance to 
get at them nearly so well as they would like to 
get at you I 

SECOND CAPTAIN— Didn't those fellows 
that dashed out of there the other night put up 
an awful fight before we killed them I 

FIRST CAPTAIN— Why, shouldn't they fight 
and be killed? That is their shortest route to 
Heaven. 

PERSHING— Yes, they would like nothing 
better than to have us attack them, so they could 
kill many of our men. They wouldn't much care 
if we did kill most of them. They would be think- 
ing of the joys of their future life. 

SECOND CAPTAIN— But won't we have to 
attack them some time? 

PERSHING — What do the army regulations 
say about questioning a superior officer? 

SECOND CAPTAIN— I beg pardon. General, 
I didn't think. 

PERSHING — I know you didn't. I was only 
joking. No, I don't think we will ever attack them. 
They are getting no more supplies. They will 
have to starve or come out, one or the other. 

(Silence on the part of the officers.) 



68 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

PERSHING — I know you are too polite to say 
you don't believe a Moro will ever surrender. But 
a Moro has just as much of an appetite as any one 
else, and when their food is gone, out they will 
have to come. 

(Enter soldier In great excitement. Catches 
his breath as he salutes.) 

PERSHING (Saluting)— What Is your mes- 
sage? 

SOLDIER— General, the Moros 

PERSHING— Yes? 

SOLDIER — They are marching down the 
mountain with a flag of truce. 

PERSHING— How Is that for a Christmas 
present? 



Act IV. 



SCENE I 



General Funston seated in his Quarters on the 
Mexican border. Enter General Pershing, Both 
salute. General Funston walks up to General 
Pershing and places his hands on Pershing's 
shoulders. 

FUNSTON — Jack, old man, my heart bleeds 
for you. 

PERSHING— Thank you, General. 

FUNSTON — I always knew you were brave, 
Jack. But in all your life, you never had such 
need of courage as now. 

PERSHING — I need more than mortal cour- 
age. 

FUNSTON — You have more than mortal 
courage, Jack. 

PERSHING — I did not suppose it was possi- 
ble for a man to suffer so much and still live. 

69 



70 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

FUNSTON— It would be hard to kill so stout 
a heart as yours. 

PERSHING — No man could hope always to 
be so happy as I was with my family. They were 
all the world to me I If it could only have been I 
to suffer in that horrible fire, and not they I 

FUNSTON— How is Warren? 

PERSHING— Warren will recover. He must 
grow up to be a whole family to his father. 

FUNSTON — He must grow up to be a man like 
his father and the whole nation will be proud 
of him ! 

PERSHING— God grant that he be a greater 
and a happier man than his father! 

FUNSTON — I hope he may be *» happier man, 
but I do not wish him to be a greater one I Jack, 
I have some work for you. Do you feel able 
to do it? 

PERSHING — If my country needs me, I am al- 
ways at her service. 

FUNSTON — Your country does have need of 
you! Villa and his men have raided Columbus 
and killed American citizens. You are to avenge 
them. Get Villa dead or alive ! 

PERSHING— I will start immediately, and 



THE PLAY 71 

will see to It that Villa kills no more women and 
children. My wife and daughters are forever 
lost, but I will save those of others. I have my 
country to live and work for I 



Act V 



SCENE I 



The pier at Boulogne. Crowds of Frenchmen, 
The French General Dumas and his men are lined 
up to greet the Americans. Behind them are 
several German prisoners, 

FRENCH CROWD— Long live the Ameri- 
cans I Long live the great General Pershing ! 
FIRST GERMAN PRISONER— (Speaking 

to his comrades). These Frenchmen lie. No 
Americans could come to France. The mighty 
submarines of the Fatherland would sink them I 

(General Pershing and his staff walk down the 
gang-plank from the ship. The crowd cheers and 
the soldiers salute.) 

SECOND GERMAN PRISONER— (To his 
comrades) . Our officers have lied to us. General 
Pershing has come. God punish America I 

72 



THE PLAY 73 

GENERAL DUMAS (Greeting Pershing)— I 
salute the United States of America, which has 
now become united to the United States of Europe. 

PERSHING (Saluting)— This reception is of 
great significance. It makes us realize to the fullest 
the Importance of American participation. America 
has entered the war with the Intention of doing 
her share, no matter how great or how small that 
share may be. Our Allies can depend upon that. 
From the present moment our aims are the same. 

SCENE II 

General Foch, commander of the French Army, 
seated at his desk in his headquarters somewhere 
in France, Enter General Pershing, Both Gen- 
erals salute, 

FOCH— Welcome, General Pershing! Our 
quarters are honored by your presence ! 

PERSHING — It is a pleasure to greet our 
ally who Is making so brave a stand against our 
common enemy, the Germans. 

FOCH — Their attack Is heavier than ever this 
time. They are sacrificing hundreds of thousands 



74 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

cf men for their advance. Nothing seems to stop 
them! 

PERSHING — General Foch, our men have been 
in training ever since they came across. Some of 
them have fought in the front line trenches. 

FOCH — And they have fought like heroes! 

PERSHING— They have only fought like 
Americans ! 

FOCH — Wait until the American army is in 
the trenches, and the Hun will have to stop ! 

PERSHING— Why should not the American 
army be in the trenches now ? I know they could 
beat the Germans without more training! 

FOCH — Oh, General, your nation is more than 
generous ! 

PERSHING— There is at this time no other 
question than that of fighting. Infantry, artillery, 
aviation, all that we have, are yours to dispose of 
as you will. I have come to say that the American 
people would be proud to be engaged in the great- 
est battle in history. 

SCENE III 

General Pershing's headquarters Christmas 
morning, 191 8. General Pershing is seated in an 



THE PLAY 



75 



arm chair with one of the regulation boxes provided 
for the soldiers* Christmas presents. Enter an 
old servant, 

SERVANT — I beg pardon, General, I came to 
tidy the room. I thought it was empty. 

PERSHING — Come in and see what my little 
son has sent me for Christmas. You see our coun- 
try has had to send so many things across the ocean 
that every soldier could have only one Christmas 
box, just this size. See? (Holding it up). This 
is the one that my little boy sent to his soldier 
daddy. 

SERVANT — Ah, General, have you but one 
child? 

PERSHING— Yes, only one now. Once I had 
four and they had the loveliest mother that chil- 
dren ever knew. 

SERVANT— Oh, General, I did not know I I 
am so sorry I 

PERSHING— The story's too sad a one to 
tell on Christmas. Come, let us see what Warren 
has sent his fathen (Unwraps box, servant 
watches.) Well, if here aren't some silk socks! 
He must think his father is a dandy I Some hand- 



76 JOHN JOSEPH PERSHING 

kerchiefs, a knife, some chocolate and some can- 
died fruit. Take some, I know Warren would 
like to know that a loyal Frenchman had shared 
his father's Christmas box! 

SERVANT — Oh, General, you do me too much 
honor I 

PERSHING— And here Is his card ''Daddy, 
from Warren." That Is a present! 

SERVANT — Ah, but what Christmas present 
did his father give? Peace to the whole world! 



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